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Gastro Obscura
Finca Descalzos Viejos
Sample Spanish wines under frescoes in a historic monastery of "barefoot old men."
Finca Descalzos Viejos (“the Barefoot Old Men”) offers guests the chance to sip fine Spanish wines underneath well-preserved Medieval frescoes. The rustic accommodations were originally built on the cliffs of Ronda by the Catholic Trinitarian Order in 1505. When they vacated the finca, they passed the premises onto the Descalzos Viejos, an order of monks famous for their lack of footwear.
Due to a number of foundational issues caused by earthquakes and landslides, among other things, the Descalzos Viejos abandoned the building in 1664, save for a few that stayed behind to maintain the various fruit trees that grew on its grounds.
In 1998, the current owners restored the building and began to use the adjacent lands for their vineyard. Today, visitors can once again gaze upon frescos dating back to some of the building’s earliest inhabitants in the main hall, which now contains rows upon rows of wine vats.
Orange, lemon, olive, and avocado trees all grow throughout the roughly 40 acres of fertile farmland. Even for those who don’t drink wine, the combination of the original artwork and the amazing view of the landscape make visiting worthwhile.
Know Before You Go
While the monastery is near highway A-347, it is only via a gravel road just off the intersection of C. Zahara de la Sierra and Pl. Península Ibérica.
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